Building designers need to undertake much deeper analyses of overheating risks, and do so under future climate change scenarios, in order to ensure their buildings can adapt and remain comfortable for occupants in a warming world.

Keystone’s Hi-therm+ lintel has won construction product of the year at the 2018 Irish Construction Industry Awards.

Kingspan Insulation has announced that it has “revolutionised” its rigid insulation technology with the introduction of new low lambda products for floor, wall and soffit applications — delivering premium thermal performance with a minimal construction thickness, with a lambda value of just 0.018 W/mK. 

Leading passive house window supplier Ultimate Window & Door Solutions has announced the launch of its new range of Olympia HI triple-glazed, passive house suitable windows and doors to the Irish market. 

The refurbishment of a landmark listed property on London’s Leicester Square has seen Marmox Thermoblocks specified in very large quantities for an unusual application. Number 48 Leicester Square is being completely redeveloped behind the retained 1920s stone facade, with Make Architects leading the design team on behalf of client, Linseed Assets, while Pacific Construction is the main contractor.

This new development of 28 units brings affordable passive housing to the Isle of Wight, bolstering the island’s bold eco ambitions while embracing a traditional seaside aesthetic.

A new low energy and airtight extension is currently on site at the TLC Nursing Home in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

Leading Irish low energy window supplier Ultimate Windows & Doors has introduced the Polish-manufactured Eko Okna low energy windows and door range, including airtight, thermally broken lift and slide doors.

Double winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Ancon Building Products continues to expand its range of high integrity structural fixings and will exhibit a number of new products at Ecobuild 2016 taking place at ExCeL, London from 8 to 10 March 2016.

Leading low energy builders Pat Doran Construction Ltd have advised anyone aiming to build a passive house using traditional cavity wall construction that correct detailing and installation is crucial.

The thermal performance of the Kingspan Optim-R panel has now been independently verified as it became the first vacuum insulation panel to be granted a BDA Agrément certificate.

External insulation examined: the reasons why placing insulation outside makes most sense, with six example projects

Closed-panel timber frame home in Wicklow with impressive thermal performance and airtightness

As of 2006 there is more and more talk in Ireland about the house of tomorrow and some very progressive houses have been built that go far beyond the basic legislative requirements for modern housing. Among them is Baile Glas, a development of twelve social and affordable housing units in Lombardstown, County Cork, initiated by the Blackwater Resource Development Agency and Cork County Council. Construct Ireland’s Jason Walsh finds out more.

At Tom Heneghan’s new development in Dromard, Belmullet, Co. Mayo, it’s a case of sixteen units down, eleven to go as Construct Ireland goes to press. Exceeding the thermal performance requirements of the Building Regulations by some 60%, these houses incorporate a range of innovative and affordable sustainable building technologies which together deliver high comfort, low energy living, as John Hearne reveals.